Trainer Henry Dwyer has set his sights on the Group 1 Oakleigh Plate with his speedball Snitty Kitty after she made a one-act affair of Saturday's $200,000 Group II Harrolds Caulfield Sprint (1000m).
Winner of the Listed BRC Lightning Handicap at her final run last season, the daughter of Snitzel returned in style in the
With Beau Mertens in the saddle, Snitty Kitty sat outside the Sydney flyer Super Too before taking control in the straight to defeat that mare by two and a quarter length with Faatinah a length back in third in race record time. (photo Grant Courtney)
"She really still doesn't know what she's doing," Dwyer said.
"Every step of the way we thought she wasn't much good.
"We paid a bit of money for her. We thought before she raced she probably wouldn't win a race. She's gone to the trials, gone to the races and every race she's had, she won a fillies race, a restricted race and stepped up to a Group II race today. She keeps getting the job done and who's to say where the ceiling is, she keeps doing it well.
I think she has done a pretty good job this prep, she's two for two, she's an immature mare who is going to need more time. I wouldn't mind tipping her out now and bring her back for the Oakleigh Plate in the autumn.
A $175,000 purchase by her trainer from the Willow Park consignment at the 2015 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Snitty Kitty advances her overall record to 6 wins, 2 seconds and 1 third from 11 starts with earnings of $385,785.
Snitty Kitty is the fourth foal and third winner out of the Tale Of The Cat (USA) mare Lassiter's Cat a half-sister to Group II winner
Lassiter's Cat has a 2yo filly by Sizzling and a yearling colt by Star Witness.
She was covered by Wandjina last spring but missed.
Reigning Champion stallion Snitzel continues to extend his lead in this year's premiership and he made it
With Jason Collett in the saddle, Goodfella reeled in Godolphin's Piracy (Exceed And Excel) to win by half a length with the Chris Waller-trained Andaz (Dash For Cash) a further short-half-head back in third. (photo Steve Hart)
The Group 1 Coolmore Stud Stakes at Flemington on Derby Day has been pencilled in for the son of Snitzel.
"You've got to be in it to win it," Baker said.
"He's really improved in the last two weeks and the owners are keen to get down to Melbourne.
"He did a super job as a juvenile and deserves a good race."
Placed in the group III B.J. McLachlan Stakes at Eagle Farm last season at two, Goodfella advances his record to 3 wins and 2 seconds from 9 starts with earnings of $370,450.
A $200,000 purchase by Bjorn Baker Racing/Blandford Bloodstock from the Newhaven Park draft at the 2016 Magic Millions Gold Coast Yearling Sale, Goodfella is the second foal of the stakes-placed Red Ransom (USA) mare Movie a daughter of the Listed stakes-winner Strawberry Storm (Thunder Gulch) who hails from John Singleton's well-known family descending from the Strawberry Road mare Strawberry Girl.
Goodfella becomes the73rd stakes winner for Snitzel who had a stakes treble on the day after Snitzepeg won the Listed Gothic Stakes at Caulfield earlier on the day.
